DeepSeek's AI app tops global downloads, India leads user base
What's the story
DeepSeek, an innovative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, has dominated Apple's App Store since January 26. According to Appfigures data (excluding third-party app stores in China), the position has been maintained globally. The AI assistant also tops the list of most downloaded mobile apps across 140 markets worldwide. Notably, India contributes the largest percentage of new users with a whopping 15.6% of all downloads across platforms since launch.
Market influence
Rapid growth and market impact
The free DeepSeek app, launched earlier in January, has received both admiration and concern for being able to compete with leading AI bots at a fraction of the cost. The rapid growth and interest in DeepSeek have already shaken stock markets across the globe. The app's success indicates that popular AI apps can be created without heavy investments in hardware.
Dominance
DeepSeek dominates US Android Play Store
DeepSeek has also topped the Google Play Store in the US since January 28, according to Sensor Tower research. In its first 18 days, the app achieved an impressive 16 million downloads. The number is nearly double the nine million downloads OpenAI's ChatGPT achieved during its initial release period, Sensor Tower said.
Growth hurdles
Potential growth challenges amid popularity
Despite the initial success, DeepSeek's overall user base still lags behind that of ChatGPT. The app also risks hitting roadblocks in terms of growth due to fears of its potential cybersecurity implications. As a precautionary measure, hundreds of firms and government contractors have blocked access to DeepSeek, Bloomberg News reported earlier this week.